The story of this our pairing with this community program is inspiring: together, we have helped transform and improve the lives of women in Toronto. It started small, though, with a very modest idea.

Just over a year ago, Lisa Denhartog, a member of 416-supporter Soroptimist International of Toronto, wondered how to improve the nutritional services that 416 offered its women. Until that point, the organization was only able to offer breakfast and lunch, meaning that some women often went hungry for the entire rest of the day.

Denhartog consulted her friend, Alex Neira, who works for Shandiz Natural Foods, the parent company of our Taste of Nature bars. Knowing that Taste of Nature production runs created a large of amount of healthy and high-quality leftovers (dried fruits and nuts too small for the packaging), Neira proposed a mutually beneficial solution. 416 would take the cumbersome bags of leftovers once a month and distribute them to their many at-risk clients as a form of nutritional and compact food.

The idea was settled, and after sorting out the logistics of transporting the huge amounts of leftovers (carloads worth, in fact) and amassing a team of volunteers to repackage the snacks into sandwich bags, the project gained quick momentum.

Once distributed among 416’s clients, the feedback was quite positive. The women loved having a portable, healthy meal they could travel with and that required no refrigeration. As an unexpected benefit, many reported that they actually ate less junk food because they had our healthy alternative.

Along with offering the clients of 416 a nutritious option for food, the Taste of Nature leftovers have also given other at-risk Torontonians a sense of purpose and self-worth thanks to an idea by packing volunteer, Debi Gaudet. After assisting with several packing sessions, Gaudet, who is also a nurse at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, wondered if she could involve any of her patients, fellow nurses, or other volunteers in the process. It would be an enjoyable, constructive experience for the clients, she thought.

By July, the wheels were in motion and Taste of Nature had dropped off bags of nuts and fruit at CAMH. The results were nearly instant: a team of volunteers, including students, staff and clients, were ready to go.

“I was beside myself,” says Gaudet, “when I walked into the dining area of the unit to at least 24 people… working away at the weekly ‘give back group’, bagging up fruit and nut mix for the 416 Community Support for Women.” The project has solidified itself as a weekly activity at CAMH, where volunteers meet every Tuesday as the “Give Back Group.” It’s a meaningful task for many of the clients at CAMH, who themselves suffer from mental health and addiction issues (some have also relied on the services 416 provides for regular support). They feel it’s something to look forward to on a weekly basis. Equally important is that the initiative has become symbiotically beneficial: the clients of 416 are enjoying access to nutritional, organic food they might not otherwise have, while clients at CAMH are becoming empowered and involved in making a positive change.

Thanks to the continuous fundraising and community work of Soroptimist International along with Taste of Nature’s efforts, community outreach programs such as this one are there to help the people who need it the most. We’re proud to give back to our community in this way.

Helping Hands

http://mssociety.ca/mswalk/

Look for Taste of Nature samples at the following local events. And it is not too late to sign up and participate! Your participation will help fund innovative programs and services in your own community – and support groundbreaking research dedicated to finding a cure.
Ajax – Pickering MS Walk / Run
Barrie MS Run / Walk
Caledon MS Run / Walk
Bowmanville MS Run / Walk
Brampton MS Run / Walk
Brantford MS Run / Walk
Burlington MS Run / Walk
Cambridge MS Run / Walk
Chatham MS Run / Walk
Cobourg, Port Hope MS Run / Walk
Etobicoke MS Run / Walk
Guelph MS Run / Walk
Kawartha Lake MS Run / Walk
Kincardine MS Run / Walk
Kitchener Waterloo MS Run / Walk
Leamington MS Run / Walk
London MS Run / Walk
Markham MS Run / Walk
Midland MS Run / Walk
Milton, Halton Hills MS Run / Walk
Mississauga Lakeshore MS Run / Walk
Mississauga Streetsville MS Run / Walk
Musoka MS Run / Walk
New Tecumseth MS Run / Walk
Newmarket MS Run/ Walk
Niagara Falls MS Run / Walk
Oakville MS Run / Walk
Orangeville MS Run / Walk
Orillia MS Run / Walk
Oshawa MS Run / Walk
Owen Sound MS Run / Walk
Peterborough MS Run / Walk
Richmond Hill MS Run / Walk
Sarnia MS Run / Walk
Scarborought MS Run / Walk
Simcoe MS Run / Walk
St. Catharines Thorald MS Run / Walk
St. Thomas MS Run / Walk
Startford MS Run / Walk
Stathroy MS Run / Walk
Toronto MS Run / Walk
Uxbridge MS Run / Walk
Welland MS Run / Walk
Whitby MS Run / Walk
Windsor MS Run / Walk
Woodbridge Vaughan MS Run / Walk
Woodstock MS Run / Walk

One solution to this problem is to work towards making schools more accessible… and Taste of Nature is helping to make this happen, by building a school in Humera, Ethiopia.

Taste of Nature has become involved with sesame seed-farming communities in Humera, a town best known for producing a unique, sweet-tasting and highly popular variety of the seed. Sesame seed export is one of the most vital economic resources for Ethiopia, and the seeds are also a key source of income for rural families and farmers. Learning at school how to improve their agricultural practices is the key to a sustainable future for the next generation of Humera’s farmers.

“So many people in the region depend on harvesting,” says Salma Fotovat of Taste of Nature. “We knew that sesame seeds could lead directly to economic autonomy for communities there. The goal is both stability and sustainability, and Taste of Nature wanted to help them achieve that.”

Taste of Nature is helping rural families embrace sustainability through a long-term sesame-based social investment plan they’ve created in collaboration with Selet Hulling and the Shewit Cooperative, a network of farmers in the Humera region. By contributing a 5-cent premium on every pound of sesame seed produced in the region, Taste of Nature has been able to assist in funding the school’s construction and maintenance. Designed and founded in 2011 for teenage students who, due to geography, would not have access to regular classes, the school will do its part to improve the country’s low literacy rates, agricultural education, and village life in general.

“Getting students reading proficiently is key,” continues Fotovat. “Education is going to play such a vital role in improving the quality of life in the community. We hope that, through helping to finance the school, we can help these students build a sustainable future for themselves and their families.”By using these sesame seeds – small golden grains of hope – to help fund education in Humera, Taste of Nature is making that future look a little brighter.

Taste of Nature will be at the CNE for 18 days with free samples and an opportunity to enter our ‘Taste of Nature’ contest. Drop by booth #2412 in the ‘At Home Pavilion’ and you could win a $1000 towards your next adventure.

Let’s Go to the EX!

Canada’s Largest Yoga & Pilates Event!

“Uniting world leaders in Yoga to reveal, educate and achieve!”

(Toronto, Ontario, February 2008) – The most powerful trinity in YOGA -mind, body and mysterious spirit – will be revealed and will no doubt enthrall and captivate Yoga enthusiasts at this 3 day only event.

With over 10,000 anticipated participants, 150 exhibitors, 100 workshops, classes, demonstrations and entertainment, this show will be the ultimate one stop shop for everything YOGA!